Evans Lawerence Cooley, 82, of Alton, Kansas, passed away Thursday, November 2, 2023, at the Salina Medical Center from complications associated with MDS. He passed away peacefully with his family by his side.
Evans was born on Christmas Day in 1940 on the family farm south of Alton. He was the only child of Everett and Verla (Byfield) Cooley. He often jokingly would say that he had not made it far in life, because he still slept in the bedroom he was born in. He graduated from Alton High School in 1959, where he excelled as a running back on the football team. He met his wife, Sharon Newton in the summer of 1957at the Osborne County Fair. They were married on September 11, 1960, and started their family that consisted of a daughter and two sons.
Throughout most of Evans’ life, he worked two sometimes three jobs and he instilled that work ethic in his children. He was a farmer, rancher, farrier, and heavy equipment operator building roads, ponds and terraces. After graduating high school, he worked the family farm and later started working for Seaman Construction. In 1980, he boughtout the partners and continued as Cooley Construction until reaching his late sixties at which time he retired from the construction business and continued farming and ranching until his death. In 1970, Evans attended and graduated from Lincoln Farrier School and shoed horses during the 70’s.
Evans enjoyed hunting, riding horses, watching old westerns, having a whisky with friends or family, and watching football (he was a Dallas Cowboys fan for decades). One of his favorite activities while raising his family in the 70’s was participating in the Kansas Western Horseman’s Association (KWHA). He and the family raced horses at KWHA horse shows almost every weekend in the summer. He also served on the KWHA Board of Directors several years and as Past President of the association.
Evans was proceeded in death by his mother and father, Verla and Everett Cooley; son-in-law, Leon Kuhn; and great grandson, Abrham Kuhn. He leaves behind his wife of 63 years, Sharon Cooley; his daughter Tonya Kuhn of Downs, Kansas; sons, Tracy Cooley (Kathy) of Overland Park, Kansas and Troy Cooley (Michelle Mathews) of Alton, Kansas; five grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
Celebration of Evans’ Life will be held at 10:30 AM, Monday, November 6, 2023 at Peace Lutheran Church of Natoma. Burial will follow at the Lutheran Cemetery in Natoma, Kansas. Visitation and family greeting friends from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM, Sunday at Peace Lutheran Church. Memorials have been established with PeaceLutheran Church or Rooks County Health Center. Contributions and condolences may be sent to Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary, who is in charge of these arrangements.